City to hold open house on proposed budget

City commissioners and department heads will be available Wednesday to answer questions about Rochester’s 2014-15 budget during an open house at City Hall.

The session is from 6 to 8 p.m. Free parking is available at the Sister Cities garage, city officials said. Registration is not required.

Mayor Lovely Warren has proposed a budget of nearly $500 million, up 3.6 percent from the 2013-14 spending plan and with tax rates increased by 1.98 percent.

The homestead tax rate will increase by 40 cents per $1,000 of property value, to $20.05, if the budget is passed as is next month by City Council. The business rate will increase by 83 cents, to $42.87.

The owner of a $70,000 home will pay $2,354.67, an additional $46.34 this fiscal year,

The tax burden of a business assessed at $262,100 will have a non-homestead rate increase of $233.91, to $12,071.30.